Monocles to be sold on high street

Monocles, last in fashion during the era of PG Wodehouse, are making a
comeback.

Vision Express, a chain of opticians, is to start selling the lenses after an unexpected spate of requests for monocles.

Sir Patrick Moore: Will he go to Vision Express to pick up his monocles?

It believes most of the requests have come from young men wanting to ape the fashion of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers.

The eyepieces cost £50 and come with a metal frame, a pouch, and a string so the wearer ensures it stays around his or her neck if it slips.

Bryan Magrath, the chief executive of Vision Express, said: “To our surprise we’ve had dozens of requests from customers in the last few months, so we thought we’d bring back the monocle on a trial basis. We’re as puzzled as anyone by the interest, but we’re a responsive retailer and we are delivering. I guess it’s one of those inexplicable fashion things.”

Initially the monocles will go on sale in central London, but if they take off with young fogeys about town, the retailer will start rolling out the single lenses around the country.

Monocles have almost completely gone out of fashion, with Sir Patrick Moore, the astronomer, the only public figure still to wear one, along with the former boxer Chris Eubank.

They were very popular before World War II, with PG Wodehouse's much loved character Psmith sporting one, along with the politician Joseph Chamberlain and Charlie Chaplin. They were de rigueur among many German infantry officers, helping to kill off their popularity.

Mr Magrath said: “We’ve read about the return of the tie to the modern wardrobe as men dress to impress again. I’m not convinced that a monocle is going to clinch the deal at a job interview, but I’d be surprised if it wasn’t a conversation starter.”